jt2100r
Active Member
I am going to start reloading 44 mag with 240 gr Elmer keith style bullet. Anyone have good loads for them? I have a SBH 10 1/2" barrel.
Thanks
Thanks
Duhhh.
If you are going to load an authentic Elmer Keith bullet , the use THE Elmer Keith load. : 22gr 2400 , std primer .
* True Keith Bullets * have several differences from generic 240 swc , typically from the Magma Engineering molds in the automated casting machines used by virtually all high volume commercial casters .
One of them is a greater porportion of the bullet is in nose and front band , leaving more powder space in the case . This means that when crimped in the crimp groove , the COL is longer than SAAMI spec. Potential issues feeding in leverguns , but ideally porportioned for S&W N frame cylnders .
And 22.0 wasn't Elmer's top load , rather his reduced load for pleasant recoil , while still completely penetrating anything that walks in North America.
Also remember in it's developement , and most of its history , the pressure standard for .44Mag was 42k CUP , not the current watered down 35k psi .
Added - Also take note of Elmer's use of Standard primers . Magnum primers will raise pressures, and have lower vels once powder charges are reduced to same level.
And Elmer worshiping aside, for slightly less than full Elmer levels , I have gotten consistently accurate results , with minimal tweaking using 4227 . Default starting point 90-95% load density with particular bullet, std for cal bullet weight cast bullet , WLP . I have never had larger than 1.25in @ 25yd groups from magnum revolvers with that .
Out of curiosity, why is it called the .44 Mag, and not the 43, or .429 Magnum, similar to how we describe the 357? Does anyone have a historical answer for that?
Back to the subject, I like 9.0 grains of Unique under a 240 grain bullet - that seems to be very pleasant to shoot.